Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 23, 2015 10:21 am Hey all, First time builder here, at the bought-my-block-still-choosing-a-plan stage. I started out thinking I had a pretty clear idea what I wanted, and now that I have looked at a million designs and walked through a thousand display homes, I'm a lot less sure. I have narrowed it down to one or two plans I like, but having trouble committing. I mean, how many living spaces do I need? What will I use them for? Are the rooms big enough? Maybe I'm just scared of getting it wrong. Can anyone relate? Re: Deciding on a plan 2Jan 23, 2015 10:39 am Hi Adam. How many living spaces do you need - well you can only be in one at a time, so if you have two - they can only be used at half the rate (unless you have others in the family who have separate needs). I personally would go as small as you dare. All signs point to small is sexy, it will cost you less in financial costs upfront, lower your environmental impact, less heating and cooling costs, maintenance and of course - cleaning! The general consensus on this forum appears to be the bigger the better, but there are a few 'less is more' advocates on here. Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Deciding on a plan 3Jan 23, 2015 10:44 am Cheers Tristanium. So you're saying I'm crazy for considering building a 27 square home for one person? Obviously it's a very subjective issue that everyone needs to decide for themselves, it's just harder than I thought! You make good points, but I'm wary of ending up with something that's a bit 'cramped' for the sake of a relatively small difference in up-front cost. Re: Deciding on a plan 4Jan 23, 2015 11:06 am We went through the same train of thought when choosing our plan. We ended up with a 29sq home for just the two of us! Why? Well mainly future proofing. We really didn't want to build again only a few years after moving in. Since we would like to eventually start a family it made sense to build a bigger home. Yes it's more cleaning, higher running costs etc... At the end of the day you need to do what makes you happy, comfortable and suits your current/future lifestyle. Hope that kind of helps! Re: Deciding on a plan 5Jan 23, 2015 11:15 am If you have it narrowed down to a couple, feel free to link them or post them up and get some feedback. Yes, it will be subjective and very personal, I am just saying - the trend is looking to be that homes will (finally) be shrinking after decades of growth. You don't want to be stuck with an F-Truck when everyone is buying Priuses Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Deciding on a plan 6Jan 23, 2015 1:41 pm Tristanium Yes, it will be subjective and very personal, I am just saying - the trend is looking to be that homes will (finally) be shrinking after decades of growth. That's an interesting one ... of course, the cynic in me says that I'd want to know (and there may not be a way to know this!) whether new houses are getting smaller more due to budget pressures on new buyers than the desires of buyers in general; ie. if buyers still want large & are only building smaller new places due to cost pressures alone, then larger houses will still be in demand on the used market. Additionally, a large house for a couple is a small house if you've got three boys. Re: Deciding on a plan 7Jan 23, 2015 1:50 pm Tristanium If you have it narrowed down to a couple, feel free to link them or post them up and get some feedback. Cheers! I've pretty much got it down to the Eden Brae Saville 25 or 27. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Unfortunately, the plans on their website don't show room dimensions. I've also played with modifying the 27, which moves the kitchen down to make the media room smaller and the family room bigger, and also decrease the size of the alfresco in favour of larger meals and living areas. My basic idea is this: Bed 1 - me Bed 2 - my son (not currently living with me, but could move back) Bed 3 - study Bed 4 - guest room / gym Family - lounge, TV Media - library Living - ??? Adam Re: Deciding on a plan 8Jan 23, 2015 2:20 pm I tend to agree with tristanium, the future of higher value housing will be smaller, but with clever space usage and high end fittings/fixtures. Also an element of uniqueness.
Perth is a good example where housing is getting very homogeneous in new suburbs. As smaller blocks and frontages, combined with large houses result in houses being very similar visually and structurally. How often do you see a frontage being a garage, front door and one room/window...a lot. As value is a function of supply and demand, the more the supply is a large quantity of the same house in areas that are very similar, the lower each individual houses value will as people drop prices to out compete the 10 other similar houses for sale. Think of second hand Holden Commodore sales. Inversely this means the supply of unique property will be lower and drive more value, though being less liquid. Just my opinon as a qualified, but not practicing valuer. Re: Deciding on a plan 9Jan 23, 2015 2:22 pm Hi Adam_C, It's a hard choice, for sure Interesting points Tristanium & Forg...personally, I've seen more demand for larger homes than smaller, and I'm building a Foxley 27 corner (not a corner block) to meet the space & storage requirements (Eden Brae - investment property). I've definitely seen a reduction in block size per development/increase in cost per square metre that has somewhat contributed to home size reduction, especially in relation to some of the first home buyers' comments on different threads describing how this has impacted on their buying/building capacity. It may also be worth considering future uses for your property...will you want to use it as an investment in future - what are the types of homes that are attractive to the market? Good luck with your build, whichever way you decide to go Re: Deciding on a plan 10Jan 23, 2015 2:33 pm All good points. My plan however, is to build it and live in it for the rest of my life, so resale value is only of secondary importance (IE how much the kids will get for it after I'm gone.) Of course we never know for sure where life takes us and my plans may change, but that's it for now. Re: Deciding on a plan 11Jan 23, 2015 2:34 pm I have to disagree. The points made regarding smaller homes make sense for inner suburbs and city living. However, when considering outer suburbs, people/families that are sacrificing living closer to the 'action' and increasing their daily commute are usually in the market for a bigger more spacious place of residence. That is exactly why we decided to move from inner Melbourne to the outer suburbs. To spend 5-600k on a tiny one bedroom apartment (no matter how clever the space usage is) was just out of the question for us. But hey, I'm no real estate expert Re: Deciding on a plan 12Jan 23, 2015 2:35 pm PixiGT Hi Adam_C, It's a hard choice, for sure Interesting points Tristanium & Forg...personally, I've seen more demand for larger homes than smaller, and I'm building a Foxley 27 corner (not a corner block) to meet the space & storage requirements (Eden Brae - investment property). I've definitely seen a reduction in block size per development/increase in cost per square metre that has somewhat contributed to home size reduction, especially in relation to some of the first home buyers' comments on different threads describing how this has impacted on their buying/building capacity. It may also be worth considering future uses for your property...will you want to use it as an investment in future - what are the types of homes that are attractive to the market? Good luck with your build, whichever way you decide to go Agreed PixiGT Re: Deciding on a plan 13Jan 23, 2015 3:09 pm All fair points, and an interesting topic of discussion. I can't really comment on the value of the Saville 27 over the 25 without my bias coming out, sorry. I am sure either would more than meet your needs! Try to get your north on the living/meals or alfresco/family side if possible Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Deciding on a plan 14Jan 23, 2015 3:13 pm Tristanium Try to get your north on the living/meals or alfresco/family side if possible Yep, I chose the block with that in mind. North is at the rear of the house, and will flip it over so the living spaces are facing East rather than West. Re: Deciding on a plan 15Jan 23, 2015 3:15 pm Forg - I am not sure, I think it is coupled with what Joea suggests - I think the trend is to look smaller closer to the action that a larger block/home further out. Jays - I agree completely with the over saturation of the same product. Too many places that offer size but nothing in terms of uniqueness. As my partner puts it when looking at real estate - she wants 'that feeling' when she walks into a place, and while I am yet to define exactly what this 'je ne sais quoi' is - I am certain it has very little to do with square meterage. But don't mind me, I am not the market! Small footprint in Eliza Ponds, Spearwood WA Re: Deciding on a plan 16Jan 23, 2015 3:21 pm Tristanium Forg - I am not sure, I think it is coupled with what Joea suggests - I think the trend is to look smaller closer to the action that a larger block/home further out. That's very true, but I guess I don't equate "block" & "house" in this context ... ie. already having a block, and deciding which house to build. Re: Deciding on a plan 17Jan 23, 2015 3:28 pm Hi, hope this helps. I like both plans. THe biggest difference seems to be in room size, particularly the media room. One obvious thing though is that you have three interior living areas very close to each other and then the alfresco next to it. I would probably go the 25, but put the kitchen where the family room is - one long bench on the back wall and a big island in front of it, maybe with panty/cabinetry on right hand wall (other side of bedroom wall). Put a large meals area in front of this and then have a large lounge room all the way along the left hand side, where the meals/living area current is. Media can stay where it is, so you have that extra room if need be (you could possiblly make it a bit bigger too). Anyway, just my two cents. I like a big open living area so that made sense to me, and you could have a servery out to the alfresco if you wanted if the kitchen was where I noted.... Good luck! PS. I am building a 27 sq single storey with my husband and my cat. Build whatever house you will feel most comfortable in! My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Deciding on a plan 18Jan 23, 2015 3:49 pm TashPaul put the kitchen where the family room is - one long bench on the back wall and a big island in front of it, maybe with panty/cabinetry on right hand wall (other side of bedroom wall). Put a large meals area in front of this and then have a large lounge room all the way along the left hand side, where the meals/living area current is. Media can stay where it is, so you have that extra room Ohh now you've got me thinking! Re: Deciding on a plan 19Jan 23, 2015 4:31 pm Lovely designs. Welcome to the forum Adam and congratulations on your decision and action to build. It's exciting huh? First time for us to. I like the size of the alfresco on the 27. That front 'multi' room isn't necessary is it? Also like you question, what to do with the extra 'family' room when there's already a 'living' room? I think I would build the 25 (because of these observations). BUT I'd claim the 'family' room for a much, much larger alfresco (combined existing alf and family). That would suit me, my husband and rather dog nicely Oh and I may open the back of the media room That's a great layout and orientation. Re: Deciding on a plan 20Jan 23, 2015 6:43 pm OK if I were looking at the two above, and given the intention, I don't know if the 27 would add enough extra usability to justify the extra cost. You'd use one of the bedrooms at the back as a study, if you were going to have a study; and the rest of the 25 is similar to the 27. I do think, though, that the media room is a little pointless in both. I think if it were me, I'd build the 25, ditch the media room, have a sort of hall cupboard which takes up the very rear of where the media currently is, move the kitchen to where the living is, put in some sort of walk-through between the laundry & kitchen with a large pantry beside it (ie. so you unload the car & go through the laundry to pack your food away), maybe even expand the linen as it will be next to the new pantry. Then with your kitchen where the living is, combine that whole space from media through to family as a big open area, you might even put a fireplace along that wall if you can see how the furniture would fit etc. That way, if there's any concern about the house feeling small; you've got a big airy space right in the middle of it. Oh, and I'd probably extend the alfresco sideways & backwards, if I had the land for it. i thought the flipped plan initially but bec i want narrow pathway from entry to dining (dont like bend), also cannot fit the… 7 17286 5 10493 Hi, Seeking volume or semi-custom builder in victoria(east), which have existing double story wide floor plans. Seeking 18-20m wide homes with depth of 12-15m long. Or… 0 25169 |